Change in GI Bill affects NC veterans in school

FAYETTEVILLE, NC (AP) -- A recent change in federal law could mean huge tuition bills for hundreds of military veterans in North Carolina looking to attend college.

The Fayetteville Observer reports that since August, the G.I. Bill no longer pays out-of-state tuition rates at public colleges and universities.

For about 420 veterans who haven't been in North Carolina long enough to establish residency, that could mean thousands of dollars in costs. And many veterans have been stationed in North Carolina too long to qualify for resident status in their home states.

The only option in many cases is to wait a year for resident status.

Mark Waple, a lawyer representing the Student Veterans Advocacy Group of North Carolina, says the organization is lobbying state and federal lawmakers for changes to the program.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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